March 13, 2016 1:33pm EDTMarch 13, 2016 1:19pm EDTAmerican Football, News, English, NCAA Division I FBS, Iowa State, OklahomaDuncan also played a key role in the founding of the Big 12 Conference in the 1990s.Iowa State(AP Photo)

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He came to Ames from Barry Switzer's staff at Oklahoma after beginning his career as a Texas high school and junior college coach.

But Duncan's greatest contributions to college athletics may have come after he moved into administration. After stints at the Sun Bowl and Gator Bowl, he led Oklahoma's athletic programs from 1986-96 before moving on to work as senior associate commissioner at the newly formed Big 12 Conference.

The National Football Foundation honored Duncan with its Legacy Award last year.

“Donnie Duncan has spent his entire life involved with the game of football,” NFF president and CEO Steve Hatchell said in a release at the time. “Duncan made an impact at every level, starting as a high school and college player before becoming a successful Texas high school football coach. He would go on to be a prominent assistant for two national titles at Oklahoma, the head coach at Iowa State and an executive director of two bowl games.

"Duncan did an incredible job as Oklahoma’s athletics director, and he was absolutely key to the foundation of the Big 12 Conference. He is the epitome of the NFF’s mission of building leaders through football, and we are proud to honor his dedication to the game with an NFF Legacy Award."